Ceasefire violation: 'Important for J&K to maintain peace at LoC'

Srinagar: Reacting to the ceasefire violation and killing of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said while action was required, it is also important to maintain peace also the Line of Control for the people of the state. "While I understand there needs to be a suitable response from India, we must also understand that there is a lot invested in the ongoing peace process. It is up to the government to decide on appropriate action. But for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, peace and maintaining the ceasefire is paramount," Omar told CNN-IBN.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid admitted that the incident is a set back to normalisation of Indo-Pak ties but also added that India should tread cautiously taking one step at a time. "I would imagine that this issue has very serious implications. But let's take it one step at a time. I don't think we should either let our guard down or get hysterical. Let's take one step at a time. Let's get a formal response from them and then we will see."

"We must also understand that there is a lot invested in the ongoing peace process," Omar Abdullah said.

When asked whether India was ready to take it up at the UN International Convention, Khurshid said, "Because we are distressed and disturbed doesn't mean that we will give a go by to sort out positions that we have taken about not inviting multilateral interference. We have consistently maintained this in the bilateral situation between India and Pakistan."

Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar denied Pakistan's hand in the killings of Indian soldiers. Speaking to CNN-IBN, she said Pakistan was ready for a third party to verify their claims if 'India doesn't believe in our enquiry'. She also told CNN-IBN that Pakistan had completed its investigation.

Pakistan Ambassador to India, Salman Bashir, also reiterated that the country did not violate ceasefire or cross the Line of Control (LoC) at any point of time. Pointing that a Pakistani post was attacked on January 6 wherein a soldier had died, Bashir said that though the matter was raised by the Foreign Ministry, Pakistan had refrained from going to the media.